Cops: Burglar came back for more

A burglar who nearly wiped out a house near Lewes got caught going back for more, police said Thursday.

The home in the 14000 block of Coastal Highway first was burglarized Feb. 25, state police said.

The refrigerator, stove and an upright freezer were taken from the house, along with small kitchen appliances, clothing, jewelry and other items including a World War I gas mask, Master Cpl. Gary E. Fournier said. The burglar also broke into a shed and took tools.

"He went there with the intention of taking everything he possibly could," he said.

The homeowner, a 59-year-old man, called police about 1 p.m. Wednesday, when he got home and saw a pickup truck backed up to the rear of the house.

Troopers who arrived quickly found Todd H. Archino, 44, of Lewes, standing outside the home with a small hatchet in his back pocket, Fournier said. He was taken into custody.

A search of his home found many items stolen in February, Fournier said. Police also determined Archino sold the freezer, refrigerator and stove as scrap, he said: "They were all long gone."

Recovered items were returned to the owner, Fournier said, including the gas mask, which "had sentimental value ... because it belonged to his grandfather."

Archino was charged with three counts of burglary and theft, two counts of burglar tool possession, selling stolen property and criminal mischief.

He also was charged with home improvement fraud in a 2013 case in which he allegedly failed to do work he was paid for in Milton. He was released on $16,500 unsecured bail on the burglary charges and $1,000 unsecured on the fraud charge.

Contact robin brown at (302) 324-2856 or rbrown@delawareonline.com. Find her on Facebook and follow her on Twitter @rbrowndelaware.